Sunday, September 30, 2012

Still more Darcy

Tonight at dinner...

"Mom, you can't see it because you're farsighted... or de-farsighted."

*************

Yesterday at breakfast we had an entire crazy Darcy conversation:

Darcy:  In health class we learned that when you smoke it turns your heart black so when Auntie Vicky dies we're going to have to cut her open and see.

Mom:  No, we're not!

Darcy:  Well, I will.

Mom:  You'll have to go to school and study science so you can work in a lab where they do that.

Darcy:  Nope.  I'm just gonna do it.

Mom:  I don't think Gramma will like that.

Dad:  You can't just do that.

Darcy: Well I'm going to wait until she's already dead.

Mom:  It's illegal.  I thought it was your lungs that turn black.

Darcy:  Your lungs and your heart and why is it illegal if she's already dead? 

Dad:  You're not allowed to just go around cutting up dead people.  It's frowned upon.

much later...

Darcy:  I'll just do it fast and then I'll sew her back up.

The conversation went on longer than this.  There were more arguments over why it's illegal but my memory isn't what it used to be.  Regardless, it was kind of funny in a slightly disturbing way.  Love you Auntie Vicky, xo

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

ATTITUDE

Caelan is becoming more and more vocal.  He verbalizes lots of words and is signing more and more everyday.  Sometimes in his determination to get his point across he will do both at the same time.

Recently, whenever we ask Caelan to put his backpack on for dinner he's already signing and saying "all done" before we even have him plugged in.  When we tell him that he hasn't even started yet, he'll stick out his big bottom lip and repeat himself a little louder and sign a little more vigorously "ALL DONE!". 

We want Caelan to know that we understood him clearly, but he is still clearly not done his dinner that has only just started...

We've been told that he's used it at school when he's not interested in a particular work station too.

He'll also uses the same "all done" conversation when it's time to change his trache ties at night.  In fact, when we first mention that it's time to change the ties we've been getting lots of "NO!" lately, complete with arms crossed, a big huff and a turn of the body away from us.

Quite the personality Mr. C... 

Not sure where I'm going with this ... but I wanted to record this behaviour.  As infuriating as it can be, I try to remember that he's becoming his own little person and has his own thoughts and opinions.  I can't help but be proud of how far he's come.


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Sometimes I like to

I was trying to read Caelan his bedtime story tonight and he was rolling around on the couch grabbing at his toes, attempting to get in this position:
 
 
Finally, I stopped reading and asked him what he was doing??
 
He pointed to the first page in the book...
 
 
 
Sometimes I like
to curl up in a ball,
So no one can see me
because I'm so small.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Crisp

Woke up to "minus" temperatures this morning...

Frost on the ground and roof tops.

Car windows needed scraping.

Beautiful leaves of every colour on my way into work.


Some people get discouraged by these things. Makes them grumpy.

Others get excited as they look forward to the white stuff covering the
ground.

I live with both these types of people and find myself somewhere in the
middle.

Today, it makes me smile. The cooler temperatures are only flaming my Fall
cooking desires of casseroles and crock pots.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Friday, September 21, 2012

Summer Bucket List Review

What better day to review our 2012 Summer Bucket List than on the last day of summer. 

From our list of 35 suggestions we almost completed half of them!  Oh well, the summer felt busy enough and I've got a head start on next year's list!  I have to remember that we also managed some adventures that weren't on the list...
  1. Biodome in Montreal July 31
  2. Farmers Markets * Metcalfe June 16, Chesterville July 7, Kemptville
  3. Busker Festival:  The weekend this was on we went on our first camping trip as the Piche 5!
  4. Have a picnic July 7
  5. Visit Mackenzie King Estates: Nope!
  6. Fly a kite: Nope!
  7. Watch planes take off:  On Damian and Caelan's visit to the Aviation Museum they did watch a helicopter take off... That's got to count for something!
  8. Pick strawberries and make strawberry shortcake June
  9. Run through the sprinkler: Nope!
  10. Play at a splash pad * with Poppa and Lolo on June 16, check
  11. Visit a waterpark: Nope!
  12. Go on a family bike ride:  Well, I know that everyone went one day while I was at work.
  13. Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill: Nope!
  14. RCMP Sunset Ceremony (June 26-30):  Didn't realize how popular an event this was.  Next year we'll have to plan better to get there early!
  15. Play a game of mini golf done
  16. Go for a walk on the beach July 8
  17. Blow bubbles:  We did this lots before the Bucket List was made but never after, go figure?
  18. Dragon Boat festival (June 22-24) June 24th
  19. Build a sandcastle:  Thought better of this one.
  20. Paint a work of art outside:  The girls painted some art in the garage...
  21. Go for a walk in the rain *June 24th
  22. Go bowling: Nope!
  23. Go fishing done
  24. Go for a boat ride do peddle boats count?
  25. Watch hot air balloons take off: Nope!
  26. Cosmic adventures *Caelan and Mom June 30
  27. Tall Ships Festival:  Okay, I must have been crazy when I added this to the list because it's in Halifax?!?!  We had no intention of getting there this summer.  We did however go to the Pirate Festival in Gananoque...
  28. Play Daddy's tire game: Nope!
  29. Enjoy a root beer or orange soda float July 8
  30. Prepare our entire dinner by campfire:  I'm going to blame this one on the dry weather and fire bans that lasted all summer long!
  31. Prepare an entire meal from food from the farmers market tried
  32. Go to a fair - Russell Fair Sept. 9
  33. Skip rocks July 8
  34. Feed some ducks * July 1
  35. Backyard camping for real!!
Now .. for a Fall Bucket List?? 

Yah, I don't think so!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

open house

One week ago we visited the kid's school to attend the annual open house BBQ.

Actually, our main purpose in attending was to meet everyone's teacher for this year.

We started in one of Darcy's classrooms, where she showed us her desk but her teacher had just started a one month medical leave so we didn't get to meet her.

Next was Ry's classroom where she showed us her various work books, her very tidy desk, a turtle shell and other neat stuff in her class.  She's very excited about having the one teacher all day and staying in the same classroom.

We met Darcy's English/Science/Math teacher out in the portable or 'cottage' as they like to call it. 

There we were able to see Darcy's "All about me" page complete with her picture and details of her favourite foods, books, movies and other stuff...

Finally we found ourselves in the kindergarten classroom. Caelan was quick to get his walker and zoom about pulling out different toys to show us.  We spoke to both his teachers independently and they both mentioned how well he was fitting in, his great personality and thought he was quite a comedian. 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Big Boy Bed


We figured that no boy in kindergarten should still be sleeping in a crib!!!

Caelan agreed whole heartedly and was very excited when he got home yesterday to see this car bed in place of the crib. 

We were a little nervous about how bedtime would go, but we didn't need to worry, Caelan was a trooper.  As usual he spent a few minutes looking at his books and then went right to sleep.

Such a big boy!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Cousins

Check out who finally got together on the weekend...
 
 
 
 
 
Welcome to the family Baby Jill!
 
 
 

Monday, September 10, 2012

First Day Details...

I figured I should wait a couple days before posting the details of Caelan's first day.   I thought the time might help mellow some of the emotions I was feeling.  Honestly though, I'm still just as frustrated.  Unfortunately, if it's not one thing it's another.

Did Caelan have fun?  Yes.  Without a doubt he had a great time while he was at school last Friday.  I'm trying to remember that.

Our day started off with that big meeting of all concerned to raise any concerns or questions and to review Caelan's needs in the Kindergarten class.  This alone was enough to frustrate us since we already had this meeting at the end of April.  However, it was clear once we arrived why we needed to repeat the meeting.  There were only a couple of familiar faces!  Almost everyone who was in attendance was in a new role. Out of the twelve people in attendance less than half were there in April - and that's including Damian and I!

The meeting went well. 

The Nurse and Education Assistant assigned to him were both in attendance and their roles and responsibilities were clarified for everyone. 

We still hadn't heard anything about transportation to and from school but the Kindergarten teacher had pick up and drop off times from the company.

We were introduced to the new Blind Low Vision representative from the Board and signed her paperwork.

We discussed the sound field system that the Teacher of the Deaf from the Board had ordered only later realizing that it wasn't going to work in the new full day kindergarten program.  There are approximately 30 students in Caelan's class, with one Teacher and one Early Childhood Educator.  The class is often divided into two groups or more working at different learning stations.  The sound field system we were hoping to use would have the Teacher wearing a microphone of sorts that would amplify her voice over all the children.  With multiple groups working on different things that won't work.  We weren't very confident with the idea of Caelan wearing his own personal headphones or ear piece to amplify her voice either.  We're hoping they're able to get a smaller amplifier that could be transported to whatever station Caelan was at, but they were discontinued so we're not sure they'll be able to find one.

In the classroom, Caelan did great.  Damian stuck around and tried to quietly keep an eye on the adults involved, knowing that Caelan would be just fine.

The nurse had been advised that this first day was only a half day so she left at lunchtime.  Not sure how this was communicated to her as it was the first we'd heard of it.  Later on though we found out that the EA that was assigned to Caelan is part time and although she's applied for the full time position she won't know for a while whether or not she gets it.  Since she came in early for the meeting she left shortly after lunch too.  Which meant that Damian could stick around and act as Caelan's EA and Nurse or they could just go home.  Caelan was getting tired after such a busy morning and Damian didn't think it was a good idea to give him the impression that this was somewhere Daddy would be hanging out with him regularly (he really had tried to stay unseen up until Caelan's entourage started disappearing) so they both went home.

Did Caelan have fun while he was at school?  Yes.

Was it everything I hoped it would be?  No.

Am I disappointed in the school for not being more organized?  Yes.

****************

We understand now that Caelan will never have an EA assigned for the beginning of school.  There will always be a wait period while postings get figured out.  I don't like it.  I think it's ridiculous that it can't be figured out before September.  Outrageous even.

For now, he gets his part time EA and then someone else fills in from somewhere else in the school.

****************

Transportation: 
We received a call on Friday afternoon advising us of different pick up and drop off times than what we had just discussed that morning in the meeting. 
On Monday the transportation van showed up earlier than advised, with no car seat.  Damian installed one of our car seats in their vehicle but it really didn't fit properly and Damian wasn't completely comfortable with the set up.  At this time the driver also advised that there would be a ten minute swing on his pick up time in the morning because of the other child he needs to pick up.  Also he wouldn't be able to pick up Caelan at school until 4pm...  That's over half an hour after school finishes?!?!!  Unacceptable.  His alternative was to pick Caelan up early from school every day at 3pm.  Really?!?!?  Unacceptable.  Caelan already has enough that makes him different from the rest of his classmates, do we need to add more?? 
Damian spoke to the Principal and voiced our concerns.  Thank goodness she agreed and phoned the transportation company immediately.  Apparently, the driver was being sent a car seat tonight and the pick up times have been sorted out.  Caelan will be picked up when classes finish at 3:20pm.

I just wish that sometimes things would fall into place without all the drama!

Meal plan

Not sure anyone really cares or is interested in what we're eating this week, but posting this helps keep me on track and organized!

Meals for the week of September 10th:

tacos (no fight meal for Monday night)
chicken pot pie
homemade subs
BBQ @ the school
chickpea chowder
roasted red pepper with goat cheese pasta
pizza frittata

What about you, do you plan your meals for the week? 

If so, what are you eating this week?

If not, why not??

Friday, September 7, 2012

Caelan's First Day


Hooray, Hooray it's finally here!!
 
Caelan's first day of kindergarten.

 
He travels a little heavier than your average kindergarten-er
 
but he's no less excited!!
 
 
You'll have to come back to hear all the dirty details another day...
as for tonight I'm as exhausted as the rest of my children after a long first week back to school!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

new members of the family?

It all started about a month ago when Damian told me he had some work to do outside.  He was going to go work on this 'project'...  Well, I knew right away what that 'project' was because we'd been talking about this possibility for some time.  He was going to work on building a chicken coop!


Tuesday, Caelan and Damian went to pick up a few new friends...


From left to right, let me introduce Kentucky, Biggin and Chicken Little


and last but not least, this one has been named Omelet.
 

Caelan helped Damian feed the chickens in the morning.

They're laying chickens, so we were anxious for our fresh eggs...

We waited for the girls to get home from school so they could go get the eggs.

What an exciting new adventure for our family!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

More Darcy...

On the weekend Damian asked the girls if either of them wanted to go to the store with him.  I'm sure he was more specific but neither of us can remember what store it was three days later.

He was met with silence but he stayed, patiently waiting for an answer.

Both girls just looked at him.

Until Darcy said...


"cricket.... cricket.... cricket"



Where does she come up with this stuff???

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Back to school


The girls both said that they had a good first day back at school. 
Actually, Darcy said it was fifty-fifty.
 
Grade six for Ry, grade four for Darcy... oh my!
 
Ryland is ecstatic to have the same teacher for both French and English.  It means that she gets the same desk all day too and doesn't need to share it with another student. 
Darcy on the other hand, is in the portable for half the day and then at the opposite end of the school for the other half.  She's upset about having to carry her bin (of supplies) back and forth!  Even worse there's assigned seating on the bus and she's not sitting with her bestest friend... pretty much the end of the world right there folks!
 
Ryland came home excited that she got compliments on her nails, her shoes, her shorts and her necklace. That in itself made today a success!
Darcy was much more concerned that she could smell fresh bread when she got home instead of the traditional chocolate chip cookies.  Daddy came through and the fresh, still warm chocolate chip cookies were waiting for them in the kitchen.

 
 
How did the first day back to school go in your home?

Monday, September 3, 2012

Monday meal plan

The long weekend has me all messed up this week!

As for a meal plan, with the girls back in school, I'm really trying to keep it on a no fights basis.  I'm thinking that they're going to be tired enough as it is...

Monday: leftover shish kebabs.
Tuesday: homemade pizza
Wednesday: burgers, homemade fries, salad
Thursday: pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes cauliflower and broccoli with cheese sauce, carrots
Friday: homemade mac and cheese

All nice and simple, except for Thursday but you gotta give Momma something!!!

Oh, and we never had the roasted beet and carrot salad last week so that's still an open option

Sunday, September 2, 2012

t minus two sleeps

Today's mission:  back to school indoor shoe shopping

After several grueling minutes and frustrating moments in the shoe ailes at Walmart we discovered that not one but both our daughters are now wearing adult sizes!!

Result:  Mommy's a little traumatized but we have two pair of indoor running shoes, so mission accomplished!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Summertime

I know summertime is for fun in the sun and a break from school but I'm always worried about all that learning that they lose over these two months.  I would love to say I'm that parent who has her children working on math problems and other educating stuff all summer but that's not reality.  Far from it.  Ryland is open to the idea (more so at the beginning of summer) but Darcy is completely against anything that even hints and educating her in the tiniest amount.  I'm faced with "It's summer and I'm not doing any homework in the summer!  There's no school in summer!!" 

Really, I can't blame her, but at the same time I hate the idea that their return to school in the Fall will begin with re-learning concepts they were taught last year.  Honestly, I would really be all for year round schooling.  I understand that breaks are needed but two months seems extreme. I don't think that we're doing our children any favours.  Real world doesn't grant you two months vacation, at least not in my real world.  Wouldn't it make more sense to have smaller more frequent breaks throughout a full 12 month school year?  Just my opinion... Guess it would cost a lot to have all the schools outfitted with air conditioning and I can't imagine there are too many teachers out there promoting this idea...

Anyway, I digress...

This summer in an attempt to make sure the children's heads don't turn to mush over the summer, I'm happy to report that they've done really well on the museum front.

Caelan and Daddy visited the Aviation and Space Museum.  They had a blast checking out all the planes and were lucky enough to watch a helicopter taking off when they first arrived.  I'm glad they went because although we've taken the girls a couple times, the planes just don't seem to excite them like they do Caelan.

Caelan and Daddy have also been to the Museum of Science and Technology a couple times, once with Gramma and Grampa along.  There are so many wonderful exhibits for children at this museum but of course Caelan is all about the trains!

Another afternoon was spent at the Canadian Agriculture Museum with Gramma and Grampa, Daddy and all the kids.  It sounded like they had lots of fun seeing the horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and chickens and even managed to pet a few...  They also watched ice cream be made and were able to give it a taste.

Next up was the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum where they got to travel back in time and experience rural life in the 1920's and 1930's.   Caelan of course enjoyed playing in the train and seeing the animals.  There were horses, cows, sheep, pigs and turkeys to see.  They visited an old school house where Darcy sat in the corner with the Dunce Cap on.  Sounded like a good time.

They were hoping to maybe get to The Diefenbunker, Canada's Cold War Museum this past week but time just went too fast.  We'll have to put it on the Bucket list for next year!!